Improvement in folding tables



W. H. PALMER.

Folding-Table. Q

No. 201,042. Patented March 5,1878.

v4 Efi i l: g 'l INVENTO j/vwmessa M 2% W (%0/@44 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. PALMER, OF WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,042, dated March 5, 1878; application filed January 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WJLLIAM H. PALMER, of Warren, in the county of Warren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Folding Tables, Camp-Stools, &c.; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a view of details.

This invention has relation to folding camp or work tables and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the shouldered cleat having beveled undercut ends to receive the beveled ends of a loose pair of legs, and a latch to secure the upper cross-bar of the latter when the table is in an upright position, all as hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the top of the table, which is preferably formed of narrow strips having their contact edges closely fitted and glued together, said strips being also further secured together by the driving-dowels a a, made of thin metal, with flanges b reversely turned at each end, somewhat in N form, so that the dowels will hold in the narrow strips when driven in across the joints at the ends. Underneath, the table-top is still further strengthened by the cleats (l and D, which are transversely secured near the opposite ends of said top. To the former cleat are hinged the upper ends of the legs B, which are connected near their lower ends by the round or cross-bar N, forming the hinged supporting-frame.

The loose or pivoted supportingframe consists of a pair of legs, E, beveled at their upper ends, as shown at e, and connected by a lower cross-bar, b and an upper cross-bar, c. This frame is wider than the hinged flame that supports it, so that when the two are folded down upon the cleats the latter will lie snugly within the former. The legs of the two frames on each side are pivoted together at their middle portions, as shown at d.

The cleat D is shouldered near each end on the inside, as indicated at h, the projecting end portions is being recessed or beveled in an undercut manner; also on the inner side, to receive the beveled upper ends 6 of the legs E of the pivoted frame, when the latter are unfolded, so as to support the table in the upright position. In this relation the middle portion of the cleat, between its shoulders h, is received between the beveled ends of the legs aforesaid, and serves to steady them. At the same time the upper round a of this frame is received upon the under surface of the cleat in such a position that its inner edge will be flush with the inner edge of the cleat, so that by turning down the button I, which is pivoted to the cleat, the supports will be securely locked in the upright position.

When the supporting-frames are laid down in the folded position lengthwise upon the cleats, the inner or hinged frame lies over and upon the upper cross-bar of the outer or pivoted frame, holding it close, and is secured in turn by the spring-hook s, which is attached to the cleat D. When thus fastened in the folded position the table is easily carried, and it can be set upright by a very simple manipulation in a few moments. It made of proper height, the structure is well adapted to serve as a camp-stool, the top being made in a single piece.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In afolding table, the combination, with the shouldered cleat having the recessed or undercut ends, of the bevel-ended legs, the upper cross-bar c, and the latch l, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY PALMER.

Witnesses: JOHN H. PALMER WILLIAM BoRNE. 

